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Topic: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington (Read 912 times) previous topic - next topic
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550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Yahoo Message Number: 104768
I'm looking to go to Durango CO. from Alburguerque NM. Has anyone traveled on 550? Is it a good road?

Re: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104771
Its a great road, 4 lane, some divided, some not. till you get to down town Aztec and it can be a little tight, but its still 4 lanes. After you enter Colorado it narrows down a few miles then is back to 4 lanes . Only one warning. There is a very brief twisty 7% down grade to an intersection where you have to stop at the bottom coming off the Mesa into south Durango. . The 4 lanes takes an hour off the travel time when we used to sneak up to Durango for 3 day week ends for railroad events back in the 70's. Figure 4 1/2 to 5 hours running 60mph most of the way. . . TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104772
Watch out around Cuba NM as the area is a well known speed trap. And though the natives driving has improved over the years, they still demand extra attention as their brake lights and turn indicators are either malfunctioning or not used. TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731.

Re: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104782
I would appreciate a bit of a follow on. I have tried rt 491 out of Gallop, and literally, it threw my wife out of her seat onto the dash when she briefly unbelted to get a drink. The bumps and pitching was like nothing I've ever experienced. Horrific. So the question then, maybe going through Santa Fe to go north on route 295. Is that also an option to 550?

Many thanks. 
Lon

'06 Inspire 
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Re: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104785
US 550 Albuquerque to Aztec much better than 491 from Gallop. 491 has whoop-de-dos that will give your coach's suspension a real work out if not break something. I swear places will have your rig airborne!!

Coriwelsh

Intrigue 12314
Durango, CO

Re: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104786
Lon, from ABQ there is no sensible alternative to 550. It is a very good road. I travel almost every year from Durango to Santa Fe and have taken every route there is. 550 is the easiest, widest and smoothest way to go.
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: 550 out of Albuguerque to Famington

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104787
The Northwest corner of New Mexico is very susceptible to tremors, which cause heaves in the roads. So you can't push the speed limits like you can in the flat lands of eastern new Mexico. You have to keep your eyes open and don't assume just because the last 20 miles has been very smooth that the next 1/2 mile won't be a challenge to a stranger. I travel the road, 550, at least 3 times a year in one direction or the either. The road from Gallup 491 is in the process of being refurbished, but will always be a challenge if you are not watching the road. There are sections of 550 near Cuba that is winding and a lot of up and down but no real challenge. Further on you run into the swells and dips before approaching the high Mesa. Then you drop off the Mesa into Bloomfield, but still wide smooth 4 lane. Between there and Aztec a is a long grade with a few more slight swells pulling into Aztec. After Aztec its 4 lane into Colorado with a series of winding sections with some grades up an down but nothing serious. Then you have to climb another Steep grade to another mesa before you let down into S Durango. This last section is two lane and I would recommend taking it at 55 mph till you get the feel. The grade down to durango with the sharp left turn to begin with I would take around 30 mph and shift down to second gear.

In this part of the world when they give a curve speed 35 mph I would back off to 5 mph slower until you get a feel for the way the roads are marked. Some states you can drive faster than indicated, Texas for instance, Oregon Colorado parts of California and other Rocky Mountain states definitely not. Because of some roads being sloped away from the focus of the curve and the fact we load are drawers heavily , we have added key locks to prevent them from popping open. This happens when you hit a bump when turning one direction and the slope of the pavement is in the other. And that applies to all roads in the Coastal mountains and Rocky mountains. Especially on famous narrow roads in California and Oregon which some times THE LANES are only 8 ft wide in corners forcing you to hang your outer dual and tag off the pavement. TWI 2004 Intrigue 42 ft 11731

PS. THE CAT C-12 was the 500 hp up grade for 04 Intrigues. If they had offered an ISM, I would have ordered it.